January 28, 2026
By: Alonso Vargas, SVP of Product at Flybuy
In my last post, a lot of people reacted to one simple idea: don’t make me move.
Since publishing it, we’ve done deeper analysis across our Hospitality data – particularly in Las Vegas – and the results reinforced something important: anchored guest behavior doesn’t just improve experience, it protects revenue during downturns.
The Vegas reality check
According to recent reporting from Fox News, Las Vegas foot traffic is down 7.4%, reaching levels not seen since the early 2000s. That decline is real and it’s showing up across the Strip. What’s notable is what isn’t showing up in our data.
Across multiple Hospitality customers in Las Vegas using our platform, revenue changes range from +2% to –3%, materially outperforming the broader market’s –7.4% decline. In a softening traffic environment, simply holding flat is meaningful. Seeing pockets of growth is a signal that demand isn’t disappearing – it’s becoming more sensitive to friction, context, and timing.
This isn’t accidental.
Anchored guests in a declining traffic environment
When foot traffic drops, every guest interaction matters more. You can’t rely on volume – you have to maximize intent.
Anchored guests are where that intent concentrates:
- Guests seated at machines, tables, or pool chairs
- Conference attendees between sessions
- In-room guests unlikely to leave once settled
These guests already want something. The question is whether your systems make it easy enough, and trustworthy enough, for them to act.
Why anchored psychology matters more when traffic softens
In high-traffic periods, friction gets masked by volume. In down cycles, friction becomes visible.
We see two things consistently among customers outperforming Vegas averages:
- They design for anchored behavior – minimizing movement, steps, and uncertainty
- They activate creative revenue levers that don’t depend on more bodies walking the floor
Examples include:
- Web-first ordering flows that avoid app fatigue
- Location-aware fulfillment that increases staff confidence
- Timed prompts and contextual menus aligned to where guests already are
The result isn’t aggressive upsell – it’s capturing demand that would have otherwise disappeared.
Casinos figured this out early
Casinos have always known that movement is revenue risk. That’s why mobile F&B worked there earlier than almost anywhere else in hospitality.
The lesson isn’t “copy casino tech.” It’s copy casino thinking: design around anchored guests, especially when traffic is volatile.
The takeaway for operators
Declining foot traffic doesn’t have to mean proportional revenue loss.
If your platform:
- Reduces friction for anchored guests
- Builds trust for staff fulfillment
- Enables creative, context-aware revenue levers
You can outperform the market – even when the market contracts.
Anchored guests aren’t a growth hack. They’re a resilience strategy.
